Rail joint



Jan. 4, 1949. GAGNQN 2,458,369

RAIL JOINT Filed June 23,' 1947 l g fnwfzfovi 9 {was 54 0/2072 Emma 15121 E 3 5:121: -33:11::1 Z la/ll" ll II ll \l I latentecl Jan. 4, 1949 RAIL JOINT Louis Gagnon, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada Application June 23, 1947, Serial No. 756,434 In Canada May 29, 1947 3 Claims.

This invention relates to railroad rail joints.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved joint for rails, which is of simple and inexpensive manufacture, and by means of which a pair of rails may be readily and firmly joined. Another object is to provide a fish plate joint for rails wherein the fish plates constitute supporting members and form a part of the vertical column of the rail to give substantially complete rigidity to the joint whereby relative movement of the rail ends is eliminated and unevenness in the rail surface avoided. Another object is to provide a fish plate joint wherein the fish plates, in the assembled joint, are placed under compression with the web of the rails under tension to provide a joint which will maintain its effective rigidity under prolonged operating conditions.

Other objects, details and advantages of the invention will appear from the ensuing description with particular reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse section through a rail showing a joint structure in tightened relation,

Figure 2 is a transverse section showing the joint structure in loosened relation,

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sections showing two modified forms of the invention, and

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the joint structure shown in Figure 3.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a base plate 5 which is adapted to provide a supporting surface for the adjoining end portions of a pair of rails. The width of the upper rail base engaging surface of the plate 5 is substantially coextensive with that of the rail base. The base plate 5 is in slight degree transversely bowed or curved to present a convex rail engaging surface whereby the edge portions thereof must be sprung upwardly a short distance before engagement of such edge portions with the plane under surface of the rail occurs. The base plate 5 is provided with marginal upwardly extending vertically directed flanges 6, the inner surfaces of which are in substantial abutment with the edges of the rail base 3. The under surface of the base plate may be provided with longitudinal ribs 1 to prevent side slipping of the structure with respect to the supporting surface on which the device is mounted. Laterally extending flanges 8 may be provided to facilitate attach- 2 ment to the supporting surface by spikes or the like.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the upper edge portion of each flange 6 is bent inwardly to provide a shoulder 9 having an arcuate under surface ID. A pair of fish plates 12, of substantially the same length as base plate 5, are adapted to be placed one on each side of the rails. Each fish plate has a curved inner surface l3 adjacent its upper edge of complementary contour to that of the curved juncture surface between the web and head of the rail. Each. fish plate also has a curved inner surface [4 on its lower portion of complementary contour to that of the juncture surface between the web and base of the rail. The fish plate also has a lower portion I5 having a generally curved lower surface constituting a cam or rocker surface l5a for engagement with the upper surface of the base of the rail, and an outwardly extending tail portion 15b which extends slightly upwardly and has a convexly curved contour for engagement with the concave under surface ID of flange 6. The fish plates are connected together by a plurality of bolts I6 extending through the rail, and nuts H.

The parts are assembled in position as shown in Figure 2, and the bolts applied and tightened. It will be observed that the lower portions 15 of the plates rock on the base 3 of the rail and, in the initial position of the plates, they are tilted outwardly away from engagement with the web of the rail. On application of the bolts and tightening of the nuts thereon, the plates will be drawn together, which action swings the tail portions l5b upwardly. As such portions move upwardly, they apply a lifting force on the vertical flanges -6 and thus raise the marginal portions of base plate 5, which are adapted to substantially engage the base 3 of the rail in the fully tightened position of the fish plates. This bending movement of the base plate 5 creates a spring tension therein which acts to maintain the assembled joint structure under great tension whereby rigidity of the structure under operating conditions is assured. Moreover, the fish plates are of such dimensions that, as their surfaces l3 and I4 engage the complementary surfaces on the rails, they become jammed between the head and base of the rails, thereby placing the rail web in tension with the fish plates in. compression. Thus, the fish plates become, in effect, a portion of the rail web, which bridges the rail joint and tend to form a continuous web portion. This action not only holds the two adjoining rails in continuous alignment but also increases the strength of the web. Furthermore, when the rails are loaded at the joint, sagging of one rail relative to the other is prevented because the fish plates are jammed against the web and between the head and base of the rails and hence are capable of withstanding the load without sag.

Preferably thefish plates 1 are; of maximum possible fthickfies's to provide?" greatest support without interference by the wheels of a railway car. Thus, it is proposed that the upper outer,

edgeportion of the fish plate should lie, when in fully assembled relation, within one-eighth inch of the lateral surface of rail head, and thatthe outer face of the fish plate shoiild' liein substan tially the same vertical planeas-thataof thelateral face of the rail head or in slightly outwardly spaced relation with respect thereto.

Referring to Figures 3 and 5, the base plate' Is, is similar in structure to base .plate 5 and is normally transversely "c'urv ed or arched." It is provided with longitudinal vertical marginal flanges fie having a plurality "of apertures zt therein," the upper surface I of each of which isv preferablyfcurved'as indicated-at 2 l Fish plates 22 are similarin'struture to plates 12, but the lower laterallyexteh'ding*tailf-portion 23 0f each.

plate'isfprovided with aplurality' of fingers "24 extending, outwardly from the edge thereof and complementary to"the"apertures-2fi in the base plate] :The uppersurfa'ces of the fingers are also complementarily' curved to engage the surfaces 21 of the apertures. It will be'observed that, on

assembly of the joint structure, thefingers will exertan upward lifting'actiononthe'flanges i9 toplaceftli base plate under tension and in substantially complete"engagement'with the lower surface of thejrailfbase;

Reierrin'glto Figure lfthebase' plate "2 5' is s imilar in s'tructurj'e'tobaseplate 6] and, innormal condition; is'siinilarly transversely curved. 7 It is provides with "vertically" extending marginal flanges";Zfijwliichhave outwardly directed "sh'oul ders' 21* along thef upper edg'es thereof. Fish plates"'28 are aisb-simiiarin structure topl'ates l2, but their lowerlateral extensions 29 have downwardly' proje cting' pcrnqns 30 provided with inwardly extending'shouliier's '31 "adapted to engage the lower-"s rapes of shrmlders"211m the basefpl'ate flanges and thus apply alifting action thereto. i

" A shirn may be interposed between the base 1. 'In aijoint'fo r adjoining ran'enas ofthe type includinghead; base and connecting web por- 'tions, a basejplate transversely curved throughout its length: to 'ini'tially';'prsent' an upper convex surface to"r'ecive' and supportthe base- POI: 'tions o'fthe-rail ends, upon one orniorei'tiesl'jsaid plate 'including upstanding "side ffianges, a pair of fish platesfeach or said fish plates including including. head, base and connecting web pora lower portion having a convex under surface adapted to be rockingly and slidably engaged with the upper surface of the rail base flange and a laterally extending tail piece interlocked with a side flange on said base plate and an upper portion which upon rocking of said fish plate inwardly toward the rail web portion wedges against and imparts an upward thrust to the under face of the rail head portion thereby causing a sliding motion of the convex under surface of said fish plates on the upper surface of said rail base flange, and tightening bolts extending'through saidfish plates. and theweb portions of the adjoini'ngirail ends for ro'cl tingly;:drawin'g said fish plates inwardly thus affecting said upward thrust of the fish plates against the head portions of "the rail ends and simultaneously exerting a lifting fforce upon said. side flanges to thereby strain the initially convex base plate into contact with thehbasportionsof the rail ends throughout .substantially the--entire width of the latter.

QzoInajoint for adjoining rail ends of the type tionsf; ab'ase plate transversely curved throughout its length to initially present an upper convex sprrace "to receive and support the base portions o'f' the rail' ends-upon? one or more ties, said plate including up'standing side fia'nges and each of which flanges includes an inturned portion having a concave 'un der' surfacei a pair of fish platesyach of-said 'fish plates including a lower portion having a' convex undensurface adapted to be rockingly' and snaamyenwgm with the upper surface of-- the rail base flange and 7 a l at-' erally extendingtai-l piece h'aving convex upper surface interlocking with the-"concave under surface ofone of saic lside flanges and-f an upper portion which upon rockin of I said fish plate inwardly toward- "the rail web' portion wedges against and impart's'; anupward thrust to the under face of -the'- railheadportion thereby causing a slid-ing motion of -'-the convex under oi 's'ai'cl rail base fiangejand"t'ightening bolts extending-through s'aid fish plates" and the web portions of the adjoining-'rai-l ends for rockingly drawing 'said fish l'ates inwardly thus effecting said upward 'thrus of the fish plates against the head portions ofth'e railends and simultaneously exerting a liftingthereby sjt'rai'nthe initiallyconvex'base plate into contact withithe bas portions o f the rail ends throughout substantiallytheentire-width of the latter. 1 a

* 7 3. n1a jbinrrcreajcim-ng rail ends of the type includingheadg base a'nd'conne'cting web portions, abase ate transversely curved through- ,outitsFlength toinit-ially present' an up-perconvex surface to receive and fi ihi ort the base portions of the raiI- ends upoIi en's oi finore ties, said plate 's ide' fianges 'eachprovided with a 'horijz' ontal' row' of'spaed'apertures, a pair of 'fish plates," eaclrpf said fish plates including r avi'ng aponvex' undersurface c 'ly I and s'l'idably engaged on the upper surface of said rail base flange, and tightening bolts extending through said fish plates UNITED STATES PATENTS and the Web portions of the adjoining rail end Number Name Date for rockingly drawing said fish plates inwardly 651,89 Stevens June 19, 1900 thus effecting said upward thrust of the fish 5 392,309 Cassady July 7, 1908 plates against the head portions of the rail ends 77, ortteus Dec. 6, 1910 and simultaneously exerting a. lifting force upon 9 9 Smith July 25, 1916 said side flanges to thereby strain the initially FOREIGN PATENTS convex base plate into contact Wit-h the base portions of the rail ends throughout substantially 10 Number t y Date the entire width of the latter. 8,239 Great i ai Apr. 11, 1904 LOUIS GAGNON, 722,603 France Mar. 22, 1932 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 15 file of this patent: 

